IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TENNESSEE
AT JACKSON FILED
FEBRUARY 1999 SESSION March 12, 1999
Cecil Crowson, Jr.
Appellate C ourt Clerk
STATE OF TENNESSEE, )
) NO. 02C01-9804-CR-00114
Appellee, )
) SHELBY COUNTY
VS. )
) HON. W. FRED AXLEY,
TOMMY NUNLEY, ) JUDGE
)
Appellant. ) (Aggravated Rape)
FOR THE APPELLANT: FOR THE APPELLEE:
BRETT B. STEIN JOHN KNOX WALKUP
236 Adams Avenue Attorney General and Reporter
Memphis, TN 38103-1922
J. ROSS DYER
Assistant Attorney General
Cordell Hull Building, 2nd Floor
425 Fifth Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37243-0493
WILLIAM L. GIBBONS
District Attorney General
DAVID B. SHAPIRO
Assistant District Attorney General
Criminal Justice Center
201 Poplar Avenue, Suite 301
Memphis, TN 38103-1947
OPINION FILED:
AFFIRMED
JOE G. RILEY,
JUDGE
OPINION
A Shelby County jury convicted defendant, Tommy Nunley, of aggravated
rape, a Class A Felony. The trial court sentenced defendant as a Range I standard
offender to the maximum sentence of twenty-five years. Defendant raises four
issues in this appeal as of right:
(1) whether the trial court erred in allowing into evidence a
report prepared by the nurse clinician who examined
the victim;
(2) whether the trial court erred in allowing the nurse
clinician to testify that the injuries she observed on the
victim were the product of forcible penetration;
(3) whether the trial court erred in allowing rebuttal
testimony by the victim; and
(4) whether the trial court sentenced defendant properly.
We find no reversible error and AFFIRM the judgment and sentence of the trial
court.
I. FACTS
On January 17, 1996, thirteen-year-old L.L.1 was brought home sick from
school by her uncle. When she arrived at the residence which was shared by
several family members, including the defendant who is her cousin, L.L. went to her
grandmother’s bedroom to rest. About fifteen minutes later, her grandmother and
several family members went to lunch. Only defendant and L.L. remained at the
residence.
Some minutes later, defendant entered the room where L.L. was resting. He
rubbed her breast and vagina with his hand, and pulled down her pants and
underwear. She tried to get away, but defendant pulled her back by the leg. He
then tore his own shorts to reveal his penis and penetrated her.
Once finished, defendant remained on top of L.L. for a few moments before
“eas[ing] out” and L.L. saw “white slimy stuff and blood” on the sheets. Defendant
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It is the policy of this Court not to identify minor victims of sexual abuse.
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ordered her to go wash. He tried to clean the sheets with a paper towel, then took
the sheets off the bed and put them in the washing machine.
When defendant took his shower a short time later, L.L. contacted her
mother, Rita Jones, and told her what happened. Jones told her to get out of the
house. L.L. gathered her things to leave and told defendant she was going to a
friend’s house to study. L.L.’s aunt arrived and took L.L. to see her mother.
Jones called the police, and officers took L.L. to the City of Memphis Sexual
Assault Center where nurse clinician, Elizabeth Thomas, examined her. Thomas’
examination revealed bleeding from the vagina, bruise-like coloration of the skin
around the urethra and hymen, a hematoma on the hymen, two lacerations through
the hymenal tissue, and a third laceration in the posterior fourchette.
Based upon this evidence, the jury convicted defendant of aggravated rape
as a result of the unlawful and forcible sexual penetration causing bodily injury to
the victim. Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-502(a)(2).
II. EXAMINATION REPORT
Defendant assigns as error the admission into evidence of the clinical report
made by Elizabeth Thomas while she examined the victim. First, defendant claims
Thomas used the report solely to refresh her recollection. As such, there would be
no reason for the report’s introduction into evidence. Second, the document
contains words indicating the victim was criminally assaulted, which defendant
claims warrants its exclusion.
A. Use of Report by Elizabeth Thomas
A report, generally, may be used by a witness for the purpose of refreshing
his or her recollection. See Tenn. R. Evid. 612. A writing used in this manner can
be entered into evidence by the adverse party. Id. However, in the case of a
document kept in the normal course of business, the Rules of Evidence provide a
clear-cut exception to the hearsay rule, making such document admissible. Tenn.
R. Evid. 803(6).
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At trial, the prosecution tendered nurse clinician, Elizabeth Thomas, as an
expert witness based upon her background, training, and experience. The defense
did not object, and the trial court declared her to be an expert. Thomas testified that
she examined the victim and simultaneously filled out a report. She made notes in
her own writing and signed the report. Over defendant’s objection, exact copies of
that report were entered into evidence and distributed to the jury. Thomas reviewed
and explained the report and notes line by line.
It is clear from the record that reports and notes of the type at issue are
routinely made in the normal course of examining victims at the Sexual Assault
Center. Furthermore, it is clear that Thomas used the notes as an aid to the jury’s
understanding of her testimony, not merely to refresh her recollection. The report
and notes, therefore, fall within the exception of Rule 803(6) and were properly
admitted.
This issue has no merit.
B. Report’s Content
On page two of the examination report, there is the statement that L.L.
“reports vaginal assault (penile) and attempted anal assault by 32 [year old] cousin.”
Defendant avers that admission of this statement is improper.
Tenn. R. Evid. 803(4) provides that “[s]tatements made for purposes of
medical diagnosis and treatment describing. . . the inception or general character
of the cause or external source thereof insofar as reasonably pertinent to diagnosis
and treatment” are admissible. The statement was properly admitted. See State
v. Stinnett, 958 S.W.2d 329, 332 (Tenn. 1997); State v. McLeod, 937 S.W.2d 867,
869-70 (Tenn. 1996).
This issue is without merit.
III. ULTIMATE ISSUE TESTIMONY
Nurse Thomas testified about various injuries and abnormal conditions she
witnessed in L.L. and concluded that the injuries were the result of forcible
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penetration. Defendant argues that the trial court erred by allowing Nurse Thomas
to offer these “ultimate issue” opinions.
Tennessee’s evidentiary rules provide that expert witnesses may “testify in
the form of an opinion or otherwise.” Tenn. R. Evid. 702. Further, “[t]estimony in
the form of an opinion. . .otherwise admissible is not objectionable because it
embraces an ultimate issue to be decided by the trier of fact.” Tenn. R. Evid. 704.
The trial court allowed Thomas to testify as an expert without objection.
During the course of questioning, she offered the opinion that “the type of injuries
that I see like this are not only indicative of penetration but painful penetration. . .not
consistent with something that is not forcible. . . .”
As an expert witness, Thomas is allowed to offer her opinion. That opinion,
otherwise admissible, is not objectionable simply because it addresses an ultimate
issue in the case. Tenn. R. Evid. 704.
This issue is without merit.
IV. REBUTTAL TESTIMONY
Defendant testified that on the morning in question, he was awakened by a
phone call from a friend. After talking on the phone in his bedroom, he prepared to
go to work. As he left the bedroom, defendant heard the front door close. The
sound surprised him because the door was normally kept closed and locked.
Defendant claimed to have seen somebody running away from the house. He
found L.L. in the bathroom and asked her who left. She responded that nobody left
and started to cry. He further testified that L.L. used the washing machine, not him.
In response to this testimony, the prosecution recalled L.L. in rebuttal. Her
rebuttal testimony was very short and to the point: (1) there were two phones in the
house, but none in defendant’s room; (2) she did not have a boyfriend at the time,
and there was no boy in the house that day; and (3) she did not use the washing
machine.
Defendant claims the victim’s rebuttal testimony was improper because it did
nothing but clarify the prosecution’s proof-in-chief. Any competent evidence that
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explains, directly replies to, or contradicts material evidence introduced by the
defense or brought out on cross-examination is admissible as rebuttal evidence.
See State v. Smith, 735 S.W.2d 831, 835 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1987). The scope of
rebuttal lies within the sound discretion of the trial court. Id. The trial court's
decision regarding the admissibility of rebuttal evidence will not be overturned
absent a clear abuse of discretion. See State v. Scott, 735 S.W.2d 825, 828 (Tenn.
Crim. App. 1987).
In light of defendant’s testimony, admission of the victim’s rebuttal testimony
was proper to directly reply to and contradict the defendant’s claims. This issue is
without merit.
V. SENTENCING
Defendant asserts that the twenty-five year, maximum Range I sentence,
imposed by the trial court is excessive. He argues that the trial court improperly
failed to give any weight to the mitigating factors developed at trial and in the pre-
sentence report.
A. Standard of Review
This Court’s review of the sentence imposed by the trial court is de novo with
a presumption of correctness. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d). This presumption
is conditioned upon an affirmative showing in the record that the trial judge
considered the sentencing principles and all relevant facts and circumstances.
State v. Ashby, 823 S.W.2d 166, 169 (Tenn. 1991). The burden is upon the
appealing party to show that the sentence is improper. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-
401(d) Sentencing Commission Comments. In conducting our review, we are
required, pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-210, to consider the following
factors in sentencing:
(1) [t]he evidence, if any, received at the trial and the sentencing
hearing; (2) [t]he presentence report; (3) [t]he principles of sentencing
and arguments as to sentencing alternatives; (4) [t]he nature and
characteristics of the criminal conduct involved; (5) [e]vidence and
information offered by the parties on the enhancement and mitigating
factors in §§ 40-35-113 and 40-35-114; and (6) [a]ny statement the
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defendant wishes to make in the defendant’s own behalf about
sentencing.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-401(d) Sentencing Commission Comments.
B. Trial Court’s Findings
The trial judge found five enhancement factors applicable to its determination
of defendant’s sentence: (1) the victim was particularly vulnerable because of her
age; (2) the defendant treated the victim with exceptional cruelty during the
commission of the offense; (3) the offense involved a victim and was committed to
gratify defendant’s desire for pleasure or excitement; (4) during the commission of
a felony, defendant willfully inflicted bodily injury upon the victim; and (5) defendant
abused a position of public or private trust. See Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114(4),
(5), (7), (12), (15). Conversely, the trial court declined to apply any factors in
mitigation, despite its acknowledgment that defendant had no criminal history.
C. Enhancement Factors
Although defendant does not contest the application of any of the
enhancement factors, we note that two enhancement factors were improperly
applied. The facts are insufficient to establish exceptional cruelty under Tenn. Code
Ann. § 40-35-114(5). See State v. Williams, 920 S.W.2d 247, 259 (Tenn. Crim.
App. 1995).
Furthermore, the trial court improperly applied the enhancement factor for
willful infliction of bodily injury upon a victim in the commission of a felony. Tenn.
Code Ann. § 40-35-114(12). Since the state relied upon L.L.’s physical injuries as
the basis for the conviction under Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-502(a)(2), those same
injuries cannot be used to enhance his sentence. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-114;
State v. Poole, 945 S.W.2d 93, 95 (Tenn. 1997).
D. Mitigating Factors
Defendant claims that there were several factors developed at trial and in the
pre-sentence report that should have mitigated his sentence: defendant graduated
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from high school; he had no criminal history; and he had an exemplary work history
from the time of his graduation, including twelve years of military service.
The trial court acknowledged defendant’s lack of criminal history, but did not
find any specific, applicable mitigating factors. Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-113. The
refusal to mitigate the sentence based upon these factors was not erroneous. See
generally State v. Robinson, 971 S.W.2d 30, 48 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1997).
E. Sentence
In conclusion, the trial court properly found and applied more than one
enhancement factor, and no mitigating factors. The mere fact that additional
enhancement factors were improperly applied does not automatically result in the
reduction of defendant’s sentence. See State v. Lavender, 967 S.W.2d 803, 809
(Tenn. 1998). Under our de novo review, we decline to disturb defendant’s twenty-
five year sentence.
VI. CONCLUSION
Based upon the foregoing, we AFFIRM the judgment and sentence imposed
by the trial court.
____________________________
JOE G. RILEY, JUDGE
CONCUR:
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____________________________
JOHN H. PEAY, JUDGE
____________________________
JAMES C. BEASLEY, SR., SPECIAL JUDGE
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